Why don't many of you take prednisone?

Carolyn

Sorry I can't personally help you more with your question. I hope you ALL are having a good 'crisis free' day!

You seem to be as knowledgable as the doctors. What blessing for this group.

Thanks so much

Carolyn

From what I learned in my short lived time with an Addisons Support Grp in Michigan (I'm now in Ohio) the difference between 'Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency' and 'Addisons' is this: When you are diagnosed with the Secondary one, your 'Pit gland' is the ""only"" affected gland & usually has a tumor on it. The adrenal glands...of which you have 1 sitting on top of each kidney are NOT affected! Full blown Addisons...of which I am headed for, is when your adrenal glands "on your kidneys" has either a tumor (like me) on/in it, thus...more 'gland problems', ACTH, Cortisol, etc. levels, yadda yadda yadda AND/OR those adrenal glands & your levels are next to nothing and shutdown per say. Did that make sense? Wait, let me reread what I just wrote....one mommento please...

Ok, I 'think' it makes sense. PLUS I believe your 'chemical levels' are different for each disease. I can always go back to my scribbled notes from the conference and see if I wrote anything more on our 'levels'. I would STRONGLY suggest to 'anyone'...get on this cool internet device God has provided for us and read...read...read! You can NEVER know too much about what we have!! Yeah, scary I know, but its extremely beneficial!! I go to a new Endo Doctor on May 28th here in an eastside town east of Cleveland whom is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic system. He, from all I have heard he is the BEST around, so will see. I can usually size them up pretty quickly & accurately. If he doesn't send me for blood tests, the 24 hr urine test and an MRI of my brain...then he MUST be GOOD cause he can SEE my levels inside of my tiny little veins!!!! Time will tell, and I will be sure to post my visit experience.

Oh....DAH....I just had a brain fart and NOW I remember why...I think...not all of us take Prednisone!!! Prednisone is reserved for people with Addisons only! Hope that is right!! ?? But as the usual disclaimer, remember that these notes are MY opinions only and in noooo way are that of a doctor. Just years of experience, thats all. Besides, if I WAS a Doctor, I sure as heck want a raise in my monthly SSI check...being classified as officially 'disabled' with this disease and all !!! You all do know that "Addison's Disease" is on the "Official Gov't accepted list" for you receiving 'SSI/SSDI monthly if you cannot work anymore!! Thats another whole other forum!! Evveryone have a good day and if its sunny out...go grab some of that free Vitamin D

Hey, I learned something from your post Herro...I really did!! And I thank you for that!! I'll have to print that off! So sounds like we should thank our lucky stars when we 'only' have the Sndry Adrnl Insuff (SAI) part!

Herro, I'll try to email you here soon...just been one of them weeks..running around like a chicken with my head cut off & 'not' accomplishing a thing!! Sunny out 2day, but to rain for next 6 days straight, so I'm trying to get the perrenials planted that I bought & getting all my lil' baby veggies in the garden. Hey, ya'll come over to Ohio and help...I'll feed you! ..oh sure, no everybody is busy??? Luv you guys...

Okay my doctor diagnosed me with adrenal insufficiency (aka addison's). I still need to get my bracelet. I guess I am just hoping it goes away. SOmeday maybe. I am hoping with regular diet, exercise, herbal supplements, sleep and most importantly prayer.

Thanks for your humble attitude Tuffy and having a servant's heart.

Speaking of traveling, My friend's son is here today again while she is in Provo Utah. Boy would I love to visit Utah. But that's okay I really do love my home and the simplicity of staying put. Traveling just wears me out. We go to the Cape each summer for a week and I am already worn out just thinking about it. It is fun though. I am going to try to write a diary entry today. It helps me to stay grounded and reflect on how awesome my heavenly Father is and how He is working in my life.

Have a blessed day everyone.

And thanks again for all the support.

Sincerely, Carolyn

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Treatment of Addison's disease involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making. Cortisol is replaced orally with hydrocortisone tablets, a synthetic glucocorticoid, taken once or twice a day. If aldosterone is also deficient, it is replaced with oral doses of a mineralocorticoid called fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef), which is taken once a day. Patients receiving aldosterone replacement therapy are usually advised by a doctor to increase their salt intake. Because patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency[u] normally maintain aldosterone production, [u]they do not require aldosterone replacement therapy.[u] The doses of each of these medications are adjusted to meet the needs of individual patients.

During an addisonian crisis, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, and high levels of potassium [u]can be life threatening. Standard therapy involves intravenous injections of hydrocortisone, saline (salt water), and dextrose (sugar). I HAVE FOUND VERY HELPFUL...."DRINK GATORADE" AS THIS WILL HELP YOU 'ALOT' WITH REPLACING YOUR ELECTROLITES!!!! YOU'LL FEEL BETTER TOO! This treatment usually brings rapid improvement. When the patient can take fluids and medications by mouth, the amount of hydrocortisone is decreased until a maintenance dose is achieved. If aldosterone is deficient, maintenance therapy also includes oral doses of fludrocortisone acetate.

A person who has adrenal insufficiency should always carry identification stating his or her condition in case of an emergency. The card should alert emergency personnel about the need to inject 100 mg of cortisol if its bearer is found severely injured or unable to answer questions. The card should also include the doctor's name and telephone number and the name and telephone number of the nearest relative to be notified. When traveling, a needle, syringe, and an injectable form of cortisol should be carried for emergencies. A person with Addison's disease also should know how to increase medication during periods of stress or mild upper respiratory infections. Immediate medical attention is needed when severe infections, vomiting, or diarrhea occur. These conditions can precipitate an addisonian crisis. A patient who is vomiting may require injections of hydrocortisone....[/i]

YUP....Don't be afraid to inject yourself with the vial of Cortef! (100mg) I only do this though if I CAN'T STOP vomiting. After you inject yourself, you should stop vomiting in less than 30 minutes. And if vomiting STILL is happening, go immediately to the ER for additonal help! BE SURE to tell the ER you injected yourself with the 100mg liquid dose!!!!![/i]

[b]I am going to open up a new POST and give you all the help & hints I have learned from many a shot [/i] **Sorry bout all the 'underlined' lines.. I couldn't see how to 'undo' what I started.

Post edited by: Tuffy, at: 05/17/2008 12:44

Failure to produce adequate levels of cortisol can occur for different reasons. The problem may be due to a disorder of the adrenal glands themselves (GLANDS that SIT on TOP of your kidneys) (""primary"" adrenal insufficiency aka ADDISON'S) or to inadequate secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland~<which lyes underneath your brain> "(""secondary"" adrenal insufficiency"").

** That is the DIFFERENCE BTWN SAI & ADDISONS. And when talking with Doctors, you should always 'say' the correct term for what variation of this disease you have....ex: Don't say you have 'Addisons', when you actually have 'SAI'

Addison's disease affects about 1 in 100,000 people. Most cases are caused by the gradual destruction of the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands, by the body's own immune system. About 70 percent of reported cases of Addison's disease are caused by autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system makes antibodies that attack the body's own tissues or organs and slowly destroy them. Adrenal insufficiency occurs when at least 90 percent of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed. As a result, often both glucocorticoid (cortisol) and mineralocorticoid (aldostertone) hormones are lacking. Sometimes only the adrenal gland is affected, as in idiopathic adrenal insufficiency; sometimes other glands also are affected, as in the polyendocrine deficiency syndrome.They ARE different! [/u]

Hope this can clear up the confusion between the 2..

GREAT site I found for all this info was at:

http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.htm